Culture shock rating

Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.

Low

Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.

Medium

Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.

High

You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.

Low

Physicality

Physical rating

Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.

Low

Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.

Medium

Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.

High

Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.

Low

TOUR SNAPSHOT

Tour snapshot

If you’re on vacay you definitely shouldn’t be watching what you eat; instead you should be out enjoying and indulging yourself! As Brasov is known as the sweet capital of Romania, it would be rude not to delve deeply into its sweet treasures… Any diet guilt you might feel will be offset as you learn about the history and culture of the city through its sweet delights. From the golden honey of the ancient Romans to special cakes made for French Generals during WWI, together we’ll experience a trip down memory lane, strolling the hidden streets of the Old Town in search of the perfect dessert! You’ll see the city from a local’s perspective, hear stories about bygone times and, most importantly, send your taste buds on a magical journey they’ll never forget!

Highlights

Indulge your sweet tooth as you taste your way through our beautiful city on foot with a local guide

Visit the hidden treasure that is the Marzipan Museum and find out why locals are so proud of this place

Taste traditional Romanian cakes, chocolates and parfaits and hear the stories behind each of them

Enjoy stunning views of the city and the wild nature beyond it from our favourite viewing spot

End your dessert tour in style with Romania’s first ‘cake flight,’ served alongside a glass of prosecco

Language: English

Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, one street snack, one traditional cake, one hot chocolate/ice-cream, one big bite-sized parfait, a flight of sweets (3 samples approx.150g each), one glass of prosecco, one half-litre water bottle.

Schedule details

Your tour will begin in front of the Municipality, next to the Roman she-wolf statue. After getting acquainted with your expert guide he or she will introduce you to the ancient history of the area.

As we chat, your guide will offer you a traditional sweet snack known lovingly by Romanians everywhere as biscuit salami. It contains just enough sugar to get those energy levels up for our stroll along the old city walls. You’ll be hooked on this sweat treat by the end of the tour, trust us!

After a bit of a hike to check out the ancient defense towers outside the city (which offer spectacular views of the flora and fauna that surrounds it), we’ll slowly come back within the old walls for our first foodie stop at a traditional and well-respected confectionery shop. As you walk in you will be instantly transported back to the 1960s. The décor, the tables and chairs and the dimly lit atmosphere all come together to make you feel like you just stepped out of a time machine. We’ll take a seat and taste the chocolate-y Joffre Cake — a local delicacy that was invented by a famous Romanian pastry chef at Casa Capsa in honour of General Joffre’s visit to Romania after WWI.

We will then make our way through the narrow cobbled streets of the Old Town, passing through (arguably) the narrowest street in Europe as we go. We’ll stop to admire the imposing ancient city gates and discover the etiquette of entering the city under Saxon rule.

We’ll then take a picturesque walk towards the Tampa mountain and stop in our favourite spot for a truly spectacular panorama of the entire city, listening to the birds sing and the bees buzz.

Back in the city centre, we will show you the modern side of Brasov’s confectionery traditions with a stop for either an artisan hot chocolate (in winter) or an ice cream (in summer). All proudly made in Brasov by a young pastry chef with serious culinary credentials, having studied and worked in Michelin star kitchens before starting his own business here in town.

Next up, we’ll check out Piata Sfatului, Brasov’s main square, and take a detour to a hidden gem that local people are extremely proud of: the Marzipan Museum! The head chef is a talented artist who meticulously builds intricate and delicious figures, landscapes and objects entirely out of marzipan. This place is a must for any visitor to the city and offers a great opportunity to pick up a unique souvenir or gift for someone back home.

And you can’t come to Brasov without trying its most local dessert, the Brasovian cassata (a type of parfait that skilfully blends three flavours into one), so that’s what we’ll do next.

Re-emerging onto the bustling pedestrian streets of the Old Town, you’ll hear some more fun, historical facts about Romanians’ relationship with desserts and sweets before the piece de resistance: a cake-tasting extravaganza! We are pleased to offer you Romania’s first cake flight (similar to a beer flight but with cake instead) where you will have the opportunity to sample three types of exquisite gourmet cakes, paired with a glass of prosecco to really get the sweet party started!

Your tour will end here but before you go, don’t forget to ask your local guide for more tips on what else there is to see, do and eat in during your stay. Whether this is your first time in Brasov or your tenth, we’re pretty sure this is the most fun way of discovering our beautiful city if you have a sweet tooth.

Additional information

Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, one street snack, one traditional cake, one hot chocolate/ice-cream, one big bite-sized parfait, a flight of sweets (3 samples approx.150g each), one glass of prosecco, one half-litre water bottle.

Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.

Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.

Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.

Dietary Notes

Nearly all the samples on our tour include milk and flour as ingredients. We can cater for vegetarians but unfortunately the tour is not compatible with a vegan or gluten-free diet.

Please notify us at least 24 hours in advance if you have any food allergies or sensitivities we should be aware of. You can do so in the “Additional Information” box at checkout or by emailing us at info@brasovurbanadventures.com.